Changeable exhibitor



May 17, 1938, L. KILBIORN 2,117,613

CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Filed Oct. 30, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 1 g a LAWRENCE KILBORN N OR . \NVE "r BY A RNEY May 17, 1938. 1 KILBQRN 2,117,613

CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Filed Oct. 50, 1936 Sheets-Sheet 2 IAWRENCE K/LBORIV INVENTOR BY W ATT RNEY

May 17, 1938. KILBORN 2,117,613

CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Filed Oct. 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 LA WRENCE K/L BORN IN ENTOR BY ATT RNEY Patented May 17, 1938 NETED STATES PATENT @Fi'iQE 20 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to the successive exhibiting or displaying of various kinds of cards, signs, pictures or the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide a machine which will automatically show a succession of cards or display elements, quickly and quietly shifting from one pictureror card to the next, exposing these one at a time, with a desirable lighting effect and fading out such lighting in the short transition periods, which may, if desired, provide a changing atmosphere-effect on the pictures or other subject matter as displayed, and which machine will be simply constructed, reliable in operation, will require no special care or attention and which will permit the changing of the display matter at any time, even while the machine is in operation.

Further objects and the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts by which the objects of the invention are attained will appear or are set forth in the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a present commercial embodiment of the invention, but it should be understood that the structure may be modified and changed, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention. t

Figure 1 is a broken and part sectional front view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view as on substantially the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 2a is a broken sectional detail illustrating the light hood swung to a different position.

Figure 3 is a broken side view of the interior frame and operating parts of the machine.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged broken and part sectional views of the catch and trip mechanisms.

The machine illustrated comprises a cabinet or casing 1 having a window 8 through which the display elements 9 are viewed and containing the mechanism by which such elements are successively advanced into display position, dropped out of sight and replaced by others.

The display elements may be in the form of cards, pictures or the like and for the purpose of supporting, shifting and guiding them, they are shown provided with oppositely extending pintles ii) at the upper corners of the same. Actually, as indicated in Figure 4, these may be simply wire or hollow tubing frames I! with the sheet material i2 carrying the pictures or other display matter fastened in any suitable manner on or in these frames and the pintles constituting extensions of the top bars of the frames. For simplicity of description, the display elements may, therefore, simply be considered as frames of such general character.

In Figures 2 and 3, one of the frames is indicated in the display position, a preceding frame is indicated dropped down out of sight, another frame is shown being lifted up at the back and a group of other frames is shown supported in back of the one being displayed.

Starting with the group of sign elements at the top, it will be noted that these hang by their pintles ID on the downwardly and forwardly inclined tracks l3 at the opposite sides of the machine, supported in such relation either by the teeth I4, Figure 4, of the pivoted holding catches I5, or by the fixed teeth l6, Figure 5, at the forward lower ends of the tracks, with the lower edges caught by the fixed catches ll, Figure 2.

The member being displayed, hangs by its pintles on the hooks l8 of the rocking catches H] in a forwardly inclined position in the downward- 1y extending rearwardly inclined guideways 2|]. These guideways may be provided simply by the inwardly extending flanges 2! against which the elements may rest, as this construction permits a forward movement of the elements into a position of display and a downwardly sliding movement, permitting also the elements to be moved backward at the bottom and to the rear away from such guides.

The catches l9 are shown. as rigidly mounted on a rocker shaft 22 which is oscillated to carry these catches from the holding position indicated in Figure 4 to the releasing position shown in Figure 5 and then back up to the holding position.

When released by catches 19, the sign elements slide down over the inclined guide flanges 2|, being caught and cushioned in such fall by reversely inclined spring fingers 23, Figure 2. In this lower position the pintles Ii! overstand the rearwardly and upwardly inclined guiding and supporting tracks 24 which lead to a return guideway 25, extending upwardly to the upper ends of the downwardly and forwardly inclined tracks l3.

Transfer of the sign elements from the lower position back up into the upper position is effected in the illustration by chains 26, running over sprockets 2T, 28 above the lower and upper ends of the lower tracks 24 and sp oc ets 9 at the upper rearward ends of the upper tracks l3, said chains carrying pintle engaging lugs 30, projecting over the lower tracks 24 and rearwardly across the return guideway 25 and upwardly above the rearward ends of the top tracks [3. As shown in Figure 2, the springs fingers 23 may yieldingly support the dropped sign with the pintles i0 actually above the lower level of sprockets 21 and the carrier lugs 30 may project forwardly into the dropway so as to first engage over the tops of these pintles thus to force them downwardly and thence shift them positively rearwardly over onto the upwardly inclined tracks 24. In this manner the lugs 30 are made to positively engage the pintles and carry them up the inclined tracks 24 and return guide 25. These lugs then lift the sign up into supported position on the upper tracks, the incline of which is sufficient to permit the pintles to slide easily down into position with the sign resting against the back of the last sign of the supported group.

The operation of the return chains is utilized to effect the actuation of the releasing and hold back catches l9, 15, respectively, by providing one or more trip pins 3| on one of the chains 25, Figure 3, to engage and swing a pivoted rocker lever 32, from the full line to the broken line position indicated in Figure 6 and to then engage and swing a second rocker lever 33 from the broken line to the full line positions, the first rocker lever being connected by a link 34 with a rocker arm 35 on the releasing catch rocker shaft 22. The two rocker levers 32, 33 are connected by a motion reversing link 36 so that downward swinging movement of the upper lever 32 will raise the lower lever 33 into position for engagement by the pin 3! as the latter escapes the tip of the first lever and will then carry the second lever downward, in so doing, effecting the upward return movement of the first lever. The link 34 connected with the top lever will thus first rock the catch I9 downwardly to release the foremost sign element and then swing it back upwardly to catch and hold the second sign element.

Transfer of the second sign element forwardly into position for support and control by the releasing catch is effected in the illustration by dropping the holding catches l5 downwardly from the holding position indicated in Figure 4, into the fully disengaged position indicated in Figure 5, and then lifting said holding catches back upwardly so that the forwardly inclined upper surfaces 3'! on the holding teeth !4 will engage the pintles of the sign element then raised against the fixed holding teeth It and lift them over these fixed teeth, as represented in dotted lines in Figure 4, where they can slide down over the top of both the movable and fixed holding teeth onto the supporting hooks l8 of the forward catches l9.

For effecting such operations of the holding and transfer catches l5, the latter are shown as freely pivoted at their rearward ends at 38 and as recessed in their forward edges at 39 to receive the projecting portions 4!! of the swinging catches [9. This provides a loose fitting gear tooth connection between the two catches, enabling the swinging catches If; to release and clear the rearward catches l5, as in Figure 5, and then on the return movement to come back and pick up these catches, returning them to the position of Figure 4, where the teeth l4 will hold the pintles of the sign element in back of the element which has just been lifted upward and dropped into the grip of the forward, rocking catches I9.

The holding catches 15 are shown as slotted at 4| to receive pins 42 which limit the dropping movement of the same to a position where the inwardly and upwardly swinging teeth 40 will properly engage and mesh with the forward edges of the catches [5, thus to return them to the holding position indicated in Figure 4.

The sprockets 21, 28, 29 at opposite sides of the machine are shown as mounted on suitable cross shafts 43, 44, 45, so that the chains will be positively driven in properly timed relation. One of these shafts, such as shaft 43, Figures 1 and 2, may carry a sprocket 45 engaged by chain 41 extending from the sprocket 48 of a suitable motor 49.

With the construction described, the transition from one picture or display to the next can be almost instantaneous, so that the display of sign or other material is nearly continuous.

The abruptness of change from one display to the next may be lessened and the effect be made more interesting and pleasing by illuminating the display and shielding or screening such illumination as the transition occurs. In the illustration, a lamp or other light source 58 is placed below the forwardly inclined sign at the display station so as to light the same upwardly and as each change is made, a light shield 5i is rocked about its center 52 to cover the light as one picture leaves and to uncover the light as the next picture reaches the display position. This movement of the lamp hood is shown as accomplished by a rocker arm 53 on the hood shaft 52 connected by link 54 with the upper rocker lever 32.

A further interesting and novel effect is accomplished in, the present disclosure by causing the hood 5! as it swings up over the light source 50, to operate as a reflector to direct the light from such source downwardly onto a reflector 55 for throwing such light outwardly through a transparency or window 56. The latter may carry some special announcement or permanent form of advertising, title, or the like, or there may be provided at this window, changing signs for announcing the titles or other information of pictures or other matter coming into view. Thus, the light for illumination of the main subject matter, may be utilized in the periods of transition to illuminate matter related or even unre lated to such subject matter.

To give certain atmosphere to the pictures or other matter being shown, a traveling screen may be provided in the form of a tape 51 running over guide rolls 58 and extending above the light source 5|]. One of these guide rolls, the one at the upper left in Figure 1, is indicated as driven by worm gearing 59 from sprocket 60, operated by chain 6| from a special sprocket 62, Figure 2, on the main drive shaft 43. The endless traveling screen 51 may may be variously colored and have smoke, fire, cloud effects and the like, for projection on the display matter. To avoid objectionable sidewise movement and cramping of the sign elements between the tracks and between the catches which support and hold these elements, the pintles may be formed with annular shoulders, as indicated at 53 in Figures 4 and 5, acting as abutments to in effect center the elements between such guiding and supporting means.

It is realized that many changes may be made in the actual construction of the machine and parts, so it should be understood that the terms employed herein have been used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except possibly as limitations may be imposed by state of the prior art.

To provide an element of time between the closing of the light hood and the dropping of the plate, so that the light will be entirely shut off before the plate is released, the rod 54, Figure 3, has a lost motion connection with rocker 53 by operating in a slot 64 in that arm, a spring 65 acting on the lower end of the link 54 to hold it at the upper end of the slot.

As the plates or frames simply ride along and over the tracks and guides, they may readily be lifted up out of or be dropped down into position in the upper portion of the machine, either singly or in a group. The cabinet may be open at the back and have a hinged top 85, as indicated in Figure 2, to facilitate such substitution or increasing or decreasing of the plates in circulation.

I claim:

1. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches and means for driving said sprocket chains.

2. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, said means for operating said catches including a trip pin or pins on one of the sprocket chains, a rocker lever positioned to be engaged and actuated thereby and connections from said rocker lever to said catches.

3. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides,-guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, said means for operating said catches including a trip pin or pins on one of the sprocket chains, a rocker lever positioned to lac-engaged and actuated thereby, connections from said rocker lever to said catches and a second reversely acting rocker lever positioned to be successively engaged by said trip pin and having a motion reversing connection with said first lever.

4. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pines riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, said means for operating said catches including a trip pin or pins on one of the sprocket chains, a rocker lever positioned to be engaged and actuated thereby, connections from said rocker lever to said catches, illuminating means at the display position, a rocking hood for said illuminating means and an operating connection from said rocker lever to said rocking hood.

5. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, a light source for illuminating the frames at the display position and an endless color screen operating over said light source.

6. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carry ing pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, a lamp or lamps at the display position, a swinging lamp hood and a traveling light screen operating over said lamp and hood.

7. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, a catch for holding the lower ends of the frames in back of the frame in the display position and means for effecting the release of the lower ends of the frames from said holding catch.

8. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper endsof the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, a catch for holding the lower ends of the frames in back of the frame in the display position and means for effecting the release of the lower ends of the frames from said holding catch, including means for bodily lifting the frames clear of said bottom holding catch.

9. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, said catches including hook-like elements for supporting the pintles of the foremost frame and hook members for holding the pintles of the frames in back of the foremost frame, said two sets of pintle engaging members being interconnected.

10. A changeable exhibitor comprising upper spaced tracks downwardly inclined toward a display position, display frames hanging between said downwardly inclined tracks by means of pintles riding on said tracks, pivoted catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said supporting tracks, guides for said pintles extending downwardly from said catches, supporting tracks for said pintles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending guides, guides for said pintles extending from the upper rearward ends of said lower supporting tracks upwardly toward the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks, sprockets below the upper ends of said upper tracks and above both the lower and the upper ends of the lower tracks, chains operating over said sprockets and carrying pintle engaging lugs projecting downwardly over the lower upwardly inclined tracks, rearwardly across the upwardly extending return guide and upwardly over the upper ends of the upper tracks, means for rocking said pivoted catches, means for driving said sprocket chains, said catches including hook-like elements for supporting the pintles of the foremost frame, hook members for holding the pintles of the frames in back of the foremost frame, said two sets of pintle engaging members being interconnected, the holding hook members having pintle lifting portions and operating vertically to actually lift the pintles and catch means engaged by the lower portions of the frames and over which. said frames are lifted in the lifting movement of said holding hook members.

11. Changeable display apparatus comprising display elements, means for supporting said elements in a display position and for automatically displacing and returning the same to said display position, means for lighting said elements in said position of display from below and a swinging light hood below said position of display for covering the light source in the transition periods.

12. Changeable display apparatus comprising display elements, means for supporting said elements in a display position and for automatically displacing and returning the same to said display position, means lighting said elements in said position of display from below, a swinging light hood below said position of display for covering the light source in the transition periods and an endless traveling light screen tape operating over said light source and hood.

13. Display apparatus comprising display elements, means for framing said elements with the upper ends inclined forwardly, means for suc cessively removing and replacing said elements in said framed position, a light source below the forwardly inclined elements in said position of framing and a swinging hood for covering said light source in the transition periods.

14. Display apparatus comprising display elements having supporting pintles, downwardly inclined tracks for directing said pintles downwardly and forwardly to a display position, framing guides extending downwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said tracks for guiding and supporting the foremost element in a forwardly inclined position, a catch for holding the lower ends of other elements back from said framing guides and catch means for holding and releasing the pintles of the foremost element and for transferring the next element over into supported position in the framing guides.

15. Display apparatus comprising display elements, means for automatically substituting said elements in a position of display, a light source located below the position of display, an announcement window below the light source and a light reflecting swinging hood positioned to alternately screen said light from the display elements and from said announcement window.

16. Display apparatus comprising display elements, means for successively positioning the individual elements in a display position and including a rocker lever, a light source, a rocking hood for covering and uncovering said light source, a rocker arm for actuating said hood, a link connected between said rocker lever and rocker arm, a slotted lost motion connection at one end of said link and spring means acting on said link at said lost motion connection.

17. Display apparatus, comprising display elements having supporting pintles, downwardly inclined tracks for directing said pintles downwardly and forwardly to a display position,

catches for holding said pintles in a position back of said display position, catches for holding the lower ends of said elements in back of said display position, framing guides forwardly of said downwardly inclined tracks and catches for positioning said elements in the display position and means for effecting release of said elements from said catches and the transfer of the display ele ments from supported position on said tracks into said framing guides.

18. Display apparatus, comprising display ele- 'ments having supporting pintles, downwardly inclined tracks for directing said pintles downwardly and forwardly to a display position, fixed catches for said pintles at the lower ends of said tracks, supporting hooks in advance of said fixed catches for supporting the pintles in the display position, rocking levers having teeth positioned back of said fixed catches to lift the pintles of one element over said fixed catches into the reach of said supporting hooks and to hold back the pintles in back of said lifted pintles and means for rocking said levers and supporting hooks in said cooperating relation.

19. Display apparatus, comprising display ele ments having supporting pintles, downwardly inclined tracks for directing said pintles downwardly and forwardly to a display position, catch mechanism for holding said pintles and for releasing same, chains provided with abutments for engaging said pintles and arranged to lift said display elements from a lower position to said tracks and means for operating said catch mechanism including trip means on said chain, a lever connected with said catch mechanism and positioned to be engaged and shifted by said trip means in one direction and a restoring lever connected to be shifted by said first lever in the reverse direction and thereby to be positioned in the path of said trip means, whereby to be actuated by the same to return said first lever to its original position.

20. Display apparatus, comprising display elements having supporting pintles, downwardly inclined tracks for directing said pintles downwardly and forwardly to a display position, element framing guides at the lower forward ends of said tracks, a lower set of downwardly and forwardly inclined tracks for said pintles below said upper tracks, sprockets at the upper rearward ends of said upper tracks and above the lower and the upper ends of said lower tracks,

chains extending over said sprockets and provided with pintle engaging lugs, means for operating said chains upwardly at the back of said upper sprockets and downwardly from said upper sprockets to said forward sprockets over the lower ends of the lower tracks and catch mechanism for holding and releasing the pintles at the lower forward ends of the downwardly inclined upper tracks.

LAWRENCE KILBORN. 

